NBA player arrested, accused of punching ex-girlfriend

Former Lawrence North basketball star and NBA player Greg Oden was arrested Thursday morning in a battery case.

He’s accused of punching his ex-girlfriend.

Greg Oden

“No weapons involved at all, this would be considered a misdemeanor battery incident at this point, again all the information we presented to the Marion County Prosecutor’s office for a final charging decision,” said Lawrence Police Chief Gary Woodruff.

According to the Lawrence Police Department, officers were dispatched to a disturbance in the 7200 block of Maple Bluff Place around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

When they arrived, they found a woman lying down with blood on her face. They encountered a witness who was yelling and crying. The witness identified herself as the victim’s best friend.

“He punched her in the face, my hand hurts and I just want to go home,” the woman told police, according to the incident report.

The officer noticed “blood, swelling to the nose, lacerations to the forehead and nose area” of the victim’s face. Police also saw blood on the sofa and floor. A flower pot was also knocked over during the disturbance.

The victim refused medical treatment, and told police “she fell but was unable to advise when and where.” Police described her as uncooperative in the report.

A relative of Oden said the argument between the basketball player and the victim woke her up. The relative told police, “Every time the two visit and go out, there is an argument to follow.”

“Things got out of control and I started to go after the victim,” police quoted Oden in the report. He said the relative and witness tried to hold him back, but he swung his arms trying to break free and punched the victim.

“I was wrong and I know what has to happen,” Oden told officers. He said he and the woman had dated for approximately two years and broke up about two months ago.

Police described Oden as “calm, apologetic and cooperative” and said he told them he took “full responsibility” for his actions.

The victim refused medical attention at the scene.

“Our understanding with the officers at the scene is that she is doing okay, obviously very upset,” Woodruff said.

Oden was taken into custody and transported to the APC.

Oden was a basketball star at Lawrence North High School and played a year of college basketball at Ohio State University. The Portland Trailblazers selected him No. 1 overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, but injuries derailed his pro career. He most recently played for the Miami Heat.